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AMES’,  SERIES  OF 

STANDARD  AND  MINOR  DRAMA. 


FIFTEEX  CEXTS  EACH. 


■j0*r  A  Full  Descriptive  Catalogue  free  to  any  cue. 


.-■*  Desperate  Game 
A  Capital  Match 
An  Unhappy  Pair 
A  Ticket  of  Leave 
A  lioin  antic  Att'a 
A  Day  Well  Spe 
A  Pet  of  the  Pn’ 

Arrah  DeBaugh 
An  Unwelcome  Return 
Alarmingly  S;  >picious 
A  Lite’s  Rev.mge 
At  Last 
Adrift 
An  A  wfu  1  Cri  min  a  1 
Brigands  of  Calabria 
Better  Half  Jr' 

Captgh  Smith 
Cumin  Man 
Did  I  Dream  it 
Domes  tic  •Felicity 
Der  r,  wo  Stfbp rises 
Driven  to  the  Wall 
D<uce  is  in  .Him 
False  Friend 

Fetter  Lane  to  Gravesend 
Give  Me  Mv  Wife 
<;,,y  lie  Did  it, 

Hints  otiS  Elocution 
Handy  Andy 

V  i  '  ’  Stout  You’re  Letting 


I  1 

tj'Jfe  JAtaiiF  ,  tifW 

Tim;.  tu-Ujjjg  fO|»f 

3o;  if  Smith  A  .  %  ^ 
dO€;  Visit 

Lady  Ainiley ’s  Secret  . 

Truly  <*V  Lyons 

Lifdfs  Revenge 

MA’ aim  Mr-  Pringle 

Mv  Heart  -  iii  tRe  Hi/ghlapds 

V  '‘Ay1  S|,i'“'' 

Mftn  ana  p  nr 
M-'ninpL  lubo] 

?jI%Tep)e  Hough 
Miller  of  Derwent  Water 


Not  So  Bad  After  All 

Not  as  Deaf  as  He  Seems 

On  the/Sly 

Obedience 

Out.  in  tne  Streets 

Paddy  Miles’  Boy 

Poacher’s  Doom 

Painter  of  Ghent 

Richelieu 

Rock  Allen  the  Orphan 
Rescued 

Spy  of  Atlanta,  25  ct&- 
S locks  Up  Stocks  Down  * 
Sport  with  a  Sportsman 
Schnapps 

Somebody’s  Nobody 
Saved 

Sham  Professor 

'1  he  Spy  of  Atlanta,  25  cts. 

The  Lady  of  Lyons  , 

The  Studio 

The  Vow  of  the  Omani 
The  Better  Half 
The  Brigands  of  Calabria 
The  Serf 

The  Poacher’s  Doom 

The  Hunter  of  the  Alp- 

Thirty -Three  Next  Birthday 

The  Painter  of  Ghent 

The  Mistletoe  Bough 

Tile  M  ifler  fit  Depvfcnt  Watet 

Tim  Bewitched  Uiodb 

That  Mysterious  Bundle 

Ten  Night*  hi  k  Dur-Room 
UNiree  Uisia*^  a  Pay  ■ 

That  Bb.V  Dan 

The  Pulse  .Ffimid  ;  , 

THt;  ShtUn  Uiu  os^vd 
Thd  RtAVMfd  U  UHfu 
The  Loupe  ia  in  H  if* 

Tjp  Coming  Man 
Vow  of  U\£  Oj-’Uuni 
When  Women  W*ep  \ 

W on  at  Last 

Wiping  Under  Dif$pu,lti^y 
W  rock-e.$ 

Wl.yh  Will  He  Marrv 


ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS, 

AN  ORIGINAL  COMEDIETTA, 

nsr  oira  act, 

— by — 


J.  PALGRAYS  SIMPSOM, 


WITH  A  DESCRIPTION  OF  COSTUMES,  CAST  OF  TIIE  CHARACTERS1 
RELATIVE  POSITION  OF  PERFORMERS  ON  THE  STAGE  %  ENTRANCES 
AND  EXITS,  AND  THE  WHOLE  OF  THE  STAGE  BUSINESS. 

A  s  performed  at  the  principal  American  and  English  Theatres. 


—  CLYDE,  OHIO:  — 

A.  D.  AMES,  PUBLISHER. 


ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS. 


First  performed  at  the  Royal  Lyceum  Theatre,  Saturday,  June  12th,  1852. 


CHARACTERS. 

Colonel  Easel y . 

$ir  Barnabas  Buzzbite . 

Mr.  Augustus  Sharp . 

Servant . 

Lady  Emily . 

Lady  Buzzbite . 

Mary  Mum . 


. Mr.  Belton 

. Mr.  Basil  Baker 

. Mr.  Henry  Butler 

. . Mr.  De  Courcv 

. Miss  Laura  Keene 

Mrs.  Frank  Matthews 
. Miss  Grove 


Time  of  Representation — Forty-five  minutes. 


COSTUMES. 

COLONEL  EASELY. — Black  frock  coat,  white  vest,  black  neck-cloth,  drab 
trowsers  ;  all  in  the  extreme  of  fashion. 

SIR  BARNABAS — Old-fashioned  green  sporting  coat,  gilt  buttons,  white 
corduroylfull  breeches,  white  cravat,  top  boots,  white  vest,  eye  glass,  low 
crowned  black  hat. 

MR.  AUGUSTUS  SHARP. — Black  Newmarket  coat,  velvet  collar,  nosegay 
in  button  hole;  trowsers  of  gray  mixture,  double-brested  vest  of  the  6&me; 
white  hat,  broad  ribbon  ;  D’Orsay  neck  yet. 

SERVANT. — Handsome  white  livery. 

LADY  EMILY  — Flowered  India  Muzlin  robe,  deeply  flounced  ;  white  lace 
paletot,  ditto  bonnet. 

LADY  BUZZBITE. — Colored  striped  silk  dress;  white  open-worked  bonnet; 
white  lace  paletot. 

MNRY  MUM.— Pink  muslin  dress;  bla-ck  silk  apron;  cap  with  blue 
ribbons. 


Alarmingly  Suspicious. 


8CENE. — A  drawing-room  in  Lady  Emily's  country  house — In  the  flat,  glass 

doors ,  opening  by  a  veranda ,  on  the  garden— Side  door  L.  side  door  r.  glass 

B. —  Table  with  books  on — Sofa  r.—  Chairs. 

Enter  Sir  Barnabas  and  Lady  Buzzbite,  by  flat,  followed  by  Mary  Mum . 

Lady  B.  (c.)  And  so  you  say  that  Lady  Emily  is  not  at  home,  Mrs.— 
what’s  your  name? 

Mary,  (r.)  Mary  Mum,  Ma’am. 

Lady  B.  Lady  Emily’s  own  maid  I  presume? 

Mary.  Yes,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  And  Lady  Emily  is  not  in  the  house — how  unfortunate! 

Mary.  Driven  out,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  Alone  ? 

Mary .  Jfo,  ma’am.  • 

Lady  B.  With  a  friend  ? 

Mary.  Yes,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  With  whom,  may  I  ask  ? 

Mary.  Colonel  Easely,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  Ah,  with  Colonel  Easely !  {exchanges  looks  with  Sir  Barnabas* 

Mary.  Yes,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  I  suppose  Lady  Emily  has  told  you  that  she  was  expecting  us 
to  come  and  stay  with  her? 

^ Mary .  No,  ma’am. 

9  Lady  B.  We  are  her  nearest  relations,  or  rather  those  of  her  deceased 
husband.  Sir  Barnabas  and  Lady  Buzzbite. 

Mary.  Yes.  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  And  she  has  not  mentioned  that  she  expected  us  ? 

Mary.  No,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  W ell,  it's  very  odd.  She  must  have  got  my  letter: 

Mary.  Can’t  say  ma’am.  d 

Buz.  (to  his  wife)  •  But  my  love,  since  you  didn’t  write  a  word,  in  order 
that  you  might  come  unexpectedly  and  take  her  by  surprise,  how  should 
she — 

Lady  B.  ( aside  to  him)  Sir  Barnabas,  Sir  Barnabas,  will  you  never  ac¬ 
quire  any  discernment? 

Buz.  (apart  to  her)  Permit  me,  my  dear,  I  have  studied  nothing  else  but 
tact  all  my  life— but — 

Lady  B.  (apart  to  him)  Can’t  you  hold  y^ur  tongue,  at  least,  Sir  Barna¬ 
bas?  (to  Mary)  Come  here,  Mrs.  Mum.  You  seem  an  intelligent,  lively 
young  woman. 

Mary.  Yes,  ma’am. 

Buz.  And  a  pretty  girl,  too. 

Mary.  Yres,  Sir. 

Lady  B.  (apart  to  him)  Can’t  you  hold  your  tongue  for  a  moment.  Sir 
Barnabas?  (to  Mary)  You  have  lived  a  long  time  with  Lady  Emily  ? 

Mary.  Pretty  long,  hia’am. 

Lady  B.  You  were  with  her  in  India? 

Mary.  Yes.  ma’am. 

Lady  Buzzbite  interchanges  signs  of  inteligence  with  her  husband. 

Lady  B.  Then  you  have  never  left  her  since  the  death  of  my  poor  cousia 
her  late  husband  ? 

Mary.  No,  ma’am. 


4  ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS. 

Lady  B.  And  has  she  been  very  unhappy  during  her  year  and  a  half  of 
widowhood  ? 

Mary .  So  so,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  B  :t  she  has  recovered  her  spirits  by  this  time,  I  suppose, 

Mary.  So  so,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  After  all,  she  was  not  much  attached  to  her  late  husband, 

Mary.  So  so,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  She  can’t  have  regretted  him  very  much. 

Mary.  So  so,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  Colonel  Easely,  who  was  in  India  at  the  time  of  her  hus¬ 
band’s  death,  must  have  been  a  great  comfort  to  her,  under  tho  circurn- 
sta  nces. 

Mary.  So  so,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  He  was  much  attached  to  her  before  her  marriage.  Of  course 
he  was  with  her  when  she  was  left  a  solitary  widow  ? 

Mary.  So  so,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  ( turning  angrily — aside)  Deuce  take  the  girl’s  “So  so,  ma’aml 
There’s  no  getting  her  out  of  that.  It’s  a  piece  of  impertinence — don’t  you 
think  so,  Sir  B  rnabas  I 

Buz.  So  so,  my  dear. 

Lady  B.  Sir  Barnabas,  are  you  as  bad  as  she?  {aloud)  You  can  go  Mrs, 
Mum. 

Mary.  Yes,  ma'am. 

Lady  B.  And  we  will  await  the  return  of  Lady  Emily,  here. 

Mary.  Yes,  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  It  is  very  pleasant  here. 

Mary.  So  so,  ma’am. 

Lady  Buzzbite,  turns  her  back ,  exasperated  at  the  repetition  of (i Bo  so,  ma'am.9' 

Mary,  {going  out — aside)  Well,  U  there’s  anything  I  hate  in  the  wo^d, 
it’s  a  pump,  and  especially  when  it’s  a  dry  one. 

{exit  r.  into  Lady  Emily's  apartment. 

Lady  B.  Sir  Barnabas,  that  girl  is  in  the  secret,  and  is  paid  to  hold  her 
tongue.  I  can  see  it  in  the  very  pinching  of  her  lips,  as  it  she  had  a  pad¬ 
lock  on  them.  ( mimics )  “So  so,  ma’am.” 

Buz.  But  my  dear,  we  dont  know  yet  that  there  is  any  secret  to  hide. 

Lady  B.  Sir  Barnabas,  how  often  must  1  make  the  observation  that  you 
constantly  display  an  utter  ignorance  of  human  nature. 

Buz.  And  how  often  Lady  Buzzbite,  must  I  remind  you,  that  tho  study 
of  diplomatic  tact  has  been  the  occupation  of  my  life? 

Lady  B.  And  after  all,  you  know  nothing  of  the  human  heart  and  your 
wonderful  tact  and  finesse  have  never  got  you  a  place,  or  prevented  our  be¬ 
ing  nearly  ruined. 

Buz,  My  d  i:  r,  if  our  affiirs  look  ill,  it  was  because  of  your  own  extrava¬ 
gance. 

Lady  B.  {imperiously)  Sir  Barnabas,  you  don’t  know  what  you  are  talk- 
in  g  about.  Please  to  hold  your  tongue,  sir. 

Buz.  {aside)  That  conclusive  argument  never  fails  her. 

Lady  B.  There  is  no  denying  that  your  folly  has  brought  us  to  a  pretty 
pass ;  and  now  the  knowledge  of  this  secret— for  secret  there  is,  I’d  lay  my 
life  on’t — would  repair  our  fortunes ;  and  there  you  stand,  and  cry  ( mimics ) 
“Perhaps  there’s  no  secret  after  all  dear.”  Oh,  Sir  Barnabas,  Sir  Barna¬ 
bas,  there’s  no  doing  anything  with  you. 

Buz.  Permit  me,  my  dear — 

Lady  B.  Be  quiet,  Sir  Barnabas.  Isn’t  it  as  clear  as  day?  Ther  's  our 
lamented  consin,  old  Hunksley,  the  rich  nabob,  who  like  a  fool,  marries  a 
girl  with  a  pretty  face,  but  without  a  penny,  and  thus  cuts  us  out  of  the  in¬ 
heritance.  The  girl  has  a  previous  attachment;  her  parents  force  her  to 
accept  the  old  nabob’s  hand.  He  returns  to  India  with  his  wife.  This 
Easely,  this  first  attachment,  changes  his  regiment  in  order  to  follow  them 
thither.  The  old  fellow  is  as  jealous  as  a  Bengal  tiger,  and  heaven  knows 
to  what  excesses  it  might  have  driven  him,  had  he  not  died.  His  widow. 


ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS. 


* 

Jj&dy  Emily,  comes  back  to  England.  Easely  accompanies  her  ;  and  there 

every  reason  to  suppose  they  are  married.  On  their  arrival,  the  old  man’s 
'trill,  which  he  had  sent  over  to  his  lawyer  here,  was  opened,  and  it  ap¬ 
pears  that  a«  jealous  of  the  future  as  the  past,  he  cuts  the  widow  out  of  the 
bulk  of  the  fortune,  in  case  of  a  second  marriage,  and  leaves  it  all  to  his 
nearest  relations,  ourselves.  It  is  for  the  purpose  of  finding  out  whether 
they  are  married,  that  I  have  invited  myself  here.  Her  unwillingness  to 
invite  ns  was  an  indication  that  there  wss  something  to  conceal.  ( noise  of 
wheels)  But,  hark,  I  hear  the  carriage,  I  think.  Sir  Barnabas,  if  we  pday 
onr  cards  well,  this  secret  will  be  ours,  and  the  property  in  our  hands  be¬ 
fore  night. 

Buz.  Well,  my  dear,  I  should  be  glad,  but,  for  my  part,  I  don’t  under¬ 
stand — 

Body  B.  You  never  do. 

Buz.  Permit  me,  my  dear— 

Lady  B.  Hold  your  tongue,  Sir  Barnabas.  Here  she  comes. 

Enter  Lady  Emily,  by  flat ;  followed  by  Colonel  Easely,  who  is  arranging  his 

dress ,  etc . 

Lady  B.  (with  effusion )  My  dear  Lady  Emily  ! 

Em.  ( coldly ,  but  politely)  Lady  Buzzbite,  Sir  Barnabas,  I  heard  at 
the  door,  of  your  arrival,  and  hurried  to  recieve  you.  This  is  a  surprise  ; 
but  the  pleasure  is  none  the  less  welcome,  because  it  was  unexpected. 

Lady  B.  Ah,  my  dear  Lady  Emily,  it  is  a  mere  friendly  and  unceremo¬ 
nious  visit. 

Em.  (as  before)  I  am  always  glad  to  see  the  nearest  relations  of  my  late 
husband.  I  have  given  orders  that  your  rooms  should  be  prepared  for  you.. 

Lady  B.  (to  her  husband)  We  are  in  the  fortress  now,  and  if  we  fire  off 
onr  small  shot  well,  the  day  is  ours. 

Buz.  (apart  to  her.)  But  permit  me,  my  dear — you  went  too  far— a  little 
more  tact — 

Lady  B.  Hold  your  tongue,  Sir  Barnabas,  and  look  about  you. 

Lady  Emily  is  up  the  stage,  and  is  taking  of  her  bonnet  and  shawl — Colonel 
Easely  arranging  his  dress  at  glass,  and  pays  no  heed  to  her. 

Lady  B ,  What  do  you  see  ? 

Buz.  (looking  around)  Nothing,  my  dear. 

Lady  B.  (with  contempt)  Oh,  Sir  Barnabas  !  She  takes  off  her  bonnet 
and  shawl — the  Colonel  never  moves  to  help  her.  That  1  call  a  matrimonial 
symptom  and  alarmingly  suspicious.  ( Colonel  Easely  comes  a.)  Colonel  Eas¬ 
ely,  we  must  renew  our  acquaintance,  (the  Colonel  bows  coldly — aside  to  her 
husband, pushing  him)  Sir  Barnabas,  what  are  you  about! 

Buz.  Delighted  Colonel,  at  the  opportunity  of  meeting  you  again.  (  Co¬ 
lonel  bows  coldly)  Nothing  could  give  myself  or  Lady  Buzzbite  greater 
pleasure,  I  am  sure — 

Lady  B.  (to  her  husband,  pulling  him  away)  Hold  your  tongue,  Sir  Bar¬ 
nabas,  that’s  enough. 

While  Lady  Buzzbite  seems  to  expostulate  with  Sir  Barnabas - — Colonel  Easely 
approaches  Lady  Emily. 

Col.  (apart  to  Lady  Emily)  How  could  you  invite  those  horrid  bores  to 
come  down  here  ? 

Em.  (to  him)  I  assure  you  I  never  invited  them  at  all — on  the  contrary — 

Col.  (toher)  Then  you  must  have  made  some  woful  mistake  in  the  mat¬ 
ter — for  here  they  are. 

Em.  (to  him)  I  can  only  say  that  it’s  no  fault  of  mine.  (continue  low 

Lady  B.  (to  her  husband)  Look,  look,  I  say  !  The  Colonel  is  out  of  sorts 
and  doesn’t  attempt  to  conceal  it.  Alarmingly  suspicious. 

The  Cobr.el  goes  up  stage  with  a  movement  of  ill  humor. 

Em.  (to  Lady  B.)  I  cannot  but  regret  I  have  so  little  amusement  to 
offer  you,  Lady  Buzzbite. 


6  ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS, 

Lady  B.  (pointedly)  I  can  assure  you,  I  promise  myself  no  end  of 
amusement  and  gratification. 

Em.  You  are  easily  satisfied,  then. 

Lady  B.  ( pointedly )  There  are  times  when  the  simple  obsevvrnce  of  the 
veriest  trifles  can  occupy  me  whole  days,  and  entertain  me  infinitely. 

Em.  You  are  very  good  to  be  thus  pleased  j  but  my  sole  resource  con¬ 
sists  in  a  few  dull  visits  in  the  neighborhood,  and  to-day  I  have  tired  my¬ 
self  to  death.  ( looks  behind  her  for  a  chair. 

Buz.  ( steps  forward  with  a  chair)  Allow  me,  Lady  Emily. 

Em.  Thank  you.  Sir  Barnabas.  (sits 

Lady  B.  (aside  to  Sir  B.  as  he  repasses  her)  And  the  Colonel  never  stirred 
mark  you — symptom  l  (aloud)  My  journey  too,  has  fatigued  me  greatly. 
(she  looks  around.  Sir  B.  never  stirs — aside  to  Sir  B.)  I  thought  so — brute! 
No  chair  for  me.  (Sir  B  fetches  her  a  chair — aloud  sarcastic )  Thank  you, 
Sir  Barnabas,  I  didn  t  want  it,  I  shall  not  sit  down  now.  With  Lady  Emi¬ 
ly’s  permission,  we  will  go  to  our  rooms,  and  arrange  our  traveling  dress 
a  little  before  luncheon. 

Em.  Act  as  if  you  were  in  your  own  house,  my  dear  Lady  Buzzbite. 

Lady  B.  You  see  I  do,  dear  Lady  Emily. 

Buz.  (apart)  Oh,  trust  her  for  making  herself  at  home. 

Lady  Emily  gets  up  to  ring  the  bell — the  Colonel  seated  behind  on  a  chair ,  with 
book ,  does  not  stir. 

Lady  B.  (apart  to  Sir  B.)  He  lets  her  get  up  to  ring  the  bell.  Humph! 
symptom — Alarmingly  suspicious. 

Enter  Servant ,  l. 

Em.  Let  Mary  show  Sir  Barnabas  and  Lady  Buzzbite  to  their  rooms. 
(servant  holds  door  open)  I  trust  you  will  find  everything  to  your  comfort 
and  convenience. 

Lady  B.  I  don’t  doubt  it  my  dear  Lady  Emily,  (apart  to  Sir  B.  in  going 
out)  Triumph,  Sir  Barnabas  !  A  few  more  symptoms  of  the  kind,  and  the 
day  is  our  own.  Before  night  I’ll  force  them  into  an  avowal  of  their  mar¬ 
riage. 

Bnz.  (going)  But,  permit  me,  my  dear — 

Lady  B.  Hold  your  tongue,  Sir  Barnabas  ! -  (drags  him  out  disputing  l. 

Col.  (springs  up  from  chair,  coming  down  R.)  Lady  Emily,  I  can’t  con¬ 
ceive  how  a  woman  of  your  good  sense,  could  have  managed  so  badly  as  to 
have  left  these  importunate  and  disagreeable  personages  even  the  shadow 
of  a  pretext  for  taking  you  thus  by  storm,  * 

Em.  My  dear  Colonel,  I  have  told  you,  I  did  not  give  them  even  the 
shadow  of  a  shade. 

Col.  At  any  rate,  you  didn’t  want  to  receive  them  in  so  very  affectionate 
a  manner,  and  induce  them  to  stop. 

Em.  Now,  really.  I  was  as  cold — I  may  say,  as  repulsive — as  good 
breeding  permitted.  Besides,  as  the  nearest  relation  of  my  late  husband,  I 
was  obliged,  out  of  respect  for  his  memory,  to  receive  them  writh  some  de¬ 
gree  of  hospitality. 

Col.  (sarcastic)  Oh,  no  doubt  that  consideration  was  a  sufficient  title  for 
your  tenderness  toward  them. 

Em.  (turning  away  hurt)  Ah,  Colonel  1 

Col.  Well,  come,  let’s  say  no  more  about  it.  Now,  don't  get  out  of  tem¬ 
per,  Lady  Emily. 

Em.  I  out  of  temper? — oh  ! 

Col.  Only  promise  me,  that  you  will  do  your  best  to  get  rid  of  them  as 
speedily  as  possible. 

Em.  Well,  I  will. 

Col.  And  we  shall  have  no  more  importune  visitors? 

Em.  None. 

Col.  And  your  time  will  be  given  to  me  alone? 

Em.  (tenderly)  To  you  alone. 


ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS. 


t 


Col.  Without  further  interruption  ? 

Em.  Without  further  interruption. 

They  bats  taken  hold  of  each  other  by  both  hands ,  and  smile  in  each  other* s  face* 
— Enter  Servant,  l. —  They  start  and  go  away  from  one  another. 

Serv.  A  gentleman  has  just  driven  up  to  the  door.  He  has  sent  in  his 
card,  with  a  request  to  speak  to  your  ladyship.  (gives  card 

Em.  (looks  at  card)  Ah!  show  him  in  here,  I  beg.  And  stay,  let  a 
room  be  got  ready  ;  he  will  probably  stop  the  night.  (exit  Servant  L. 

Col.  (with  ill  humor)  Another  visitor.  Is  this  your  promise,  Lady  Em¬ 
ily? 

Em, .  (gives  him  card)  Now  don’t  be  out  of  temper  again,  Easely.  Look  ! 

Col.  (takes  card)  ‘‘Mr.  Augustus  Sharp.”  I  don’t  see  the  necessity  at 
all.  Who  is  this  Mr.  Augustus  Sharp,  who  comes  thrusting  himself  in,  as  if 
we  were  not  plagued  enough  with  these  detestable  Buzzbites? 

Em.  Mr.  Augustus  Sharp  is  nephew  to  my  late  husband’s  lawyer,  old 
Mr.  Sharp.  I  have  promised  to  look  over  the  papers  left  in  his  hands,  to¬ 
gether  with  those  last  arrived  from  India,  a  day  or  two  ago.  The  old  gen- 
leman  is  probably  not  able  to  come,  and  has  sent  his  young  partner.  The 
business  will  occupy  some  time,  and  so  I  have  provided  Mr.  Augustus 
Sharp  with  a  bed.  Will  that  content  you? 

Col.  I  must  needs  content  myself.  But  you  must  own  that  fate  seems 
resolved  to  baulk  me  in  my  hopes  of  a  little  peace  and  quiet. 

Serv.  (announcing)  Mr.  Augustus  Sharp.  exit  L. 

Enter  Augustus  Sharp  l.,  extravagantly  dressed,  he  has  a  “gentish”  tone. 

Aug.  (bows  in  an  off-hand  manner)  Lady  Emily,  I  have  the  honqr  of  sa¬ 
luting  you.  Ab,  hem! 

Em.  (c. )  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Sharp.  I  was  expecting  your  uncle, 
but  I  suppose  you  have  come  to  supply  his  place. 

Aug.  Exactly  so,  Poor  old  Nick  is  laid  up  with  the  gout.  We  call  old 
Nicholas  Sharp,  “Old  Nick,”  in  our  moments  of  jocoseness — a  slight  face¬ 
tiousness  that  will  off  the  tongue  sometimes,  although  not  quite  the  thing 
in  ladies’  company — for  I  am  aware  that  the  term  applies  more  generally  to 
,  a  certain  gentleman  of  black  looks — (turns  as  he  speaks,  and  sees  the  Colonel 
>  looking  sternly  at  him ,  he  starts ,  then  recovers  himself ,  and  bows  in  an  off¬ 
hand  manner.) 

Em.  (introducing  slightly)  Colonel  Easely. 

Aug.  (bowing)  Colonel,  I  have  the  honor.  Ah,  hem  ! 

The  Colonel  bows  stiffly ,  and  turns  up  the  stage — Lady  Emily  gives  him  a  dep - 
recating  sign  and  look. 

*  Aug.  (aside)  What’s  that  fellow  doing  here — making  love  to  my  lady? 
Monstrous  green  if  he  is — a  woman  who  loses  her  fortune  if  she  marries 
again. 

Em.  You  have  brought  the  papers  for  my  examination,  Mr.  Sharp  ? 

Aug.  Why,  not  exactly.  The  fact  was,  I  was  absent  from  home  upon 
importaat  business — to  say  the  truth,  the  Derby,  and  my  revered  uncle,  not 
being  able  to  pay  his  respects  to  your  Ladyship  himself,  dispatched  a  mes¬ 
senger  off  to  me — the  old  slyboots  guessed  where  I  was — begging  me  to 
drive  over  here  at  once — and  telling  me  that  the  papers  should  be  sent  to 
meet  me  here.  They  are  not  yet  come,  I  hear,  but  they  must  arrive  short¬ 
ly  ;  and,  in  the  meanwhile,  I  am  very  much  your  Ladyship’s  obedient  very 
humble  servant.  (bows 

Em.  I  have  no  doubt  the  papers  will  be  here  befoie  long,  (bell  rings)  But 
there,  we  have  the  bell  before  luncheon.  You  will  excuse  me  a  moment— 
there  are  books  here  to  amuse  you. 

Sharp  bows — the  Colonel  comes  down  l.,  about  to  go ,  turns  looks  up  and  down 
at  Sharp  with  arrogance ,  while  Lady  Emily  fetches  bonnet  and  shawl. 

Em.  (c.  shakes  finger  at  him)  Colonel,  Colonel!  (goes  a. 

Col.  ( following  her)  But  you  put  me  to  a  cruel  test. 

( exit  Lady  Emily  a.  warning  him 


8 


ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS. 


Col .  (going,  l.)  Oh,  for  a  little  peace  and  quiet  I  ( exit  l. 

Aug.  ( coming  down,  after  looking  at  books  and  pamphlets  on  table)  Not  a 
Sporting  Magazine,  not  a  Racing  Calender,  not  even  a  Bell’s  Life  I  And  she 
calls  that  having  books  that  will  amuse  me.  There’s  no  accounting  for 
people,  (going  to  glass  r.  and  arranging  neckcloth)  Ah,  ah  !  Not  so  bad, 
Augustus  i  You  can  do  execution,  you  rogue.  But  you  mustn’t  allow  your 
fascinating  powers  to  be  exercised  here,  you  rascal!  You  mustn’t — you 
mustn’t — you  mustn’t.  Ah,  confound  the  tie  !  There,  that  will  do^-Au- 
gustus  is  himself  again  !  ( coming  down)  No,  it  wouldn’t  do.  It  would  be  too 
hard  upon  her  Ladyship.  I  must  check  my  gallantry,  and  leave  that  poor 
little  heart  alone.  It’s  a  pity  though,  that  I  can’t  try  it  on  with  her,  for 
she’s  a  devilish  pretty  woman,  and  a  sharp  hand  too,  and  would  make  a 
capital  wife  for  me.  But  a  woman  who  loses  all  her  property,  all  her 
charms,  in  fact,  when  she  marries  again.  Pooh,  she  mustn’t  be  thought  of. 
Augustus,  my  friend,  you  are  in  the  market  as  a  marrying  man,  you  are  as 
pretty  a  piece  of  goods  as  a  woman  need  bargain  for,  and  you  must  marry 
an  heiress,  my  boy.  No,  no  1  I  am  not  to  be  done  so.  A  pretty  face  won’t 
pay  ;  and  I  must  have  my  price. 

Enter  & Hr  Barnabas  and  Lady  Buzzbite,  l.,  i oith  dress  slightly  changed. 

Lady  B.  Ah,  Mr.  Augustus  Sharp,  of  the  firm  of  Sharp  and  Sharp,  our 
dear  lamented  cousin’s  lawyers. 

Aug.  (bows)  Lady  Buzzbite,  Sir  Barnabas,  I  am  your  most  obedient. 
(aside)  Monstrous  slow  people  those — infinite  bores! 

Lady  B.  (c.)  You  come  upon  Lady  Emily’s  business,  Mr.  Sharp. 

Aug.  (r.)  Why,  partly,  and  also  for  the  pleasure  of  seeing  poor  Lady 
Emily. 

Lady  A.  You  may  well  say,  poor  Lady  Emily - 

Buz.  You  may  well  say  poor - 

(Lady  B.  looks  at  him  sharply ;  he  stops  alarmed 

Lady  B.  For  you  know  that  if  it  should  be  discovered — hum  ? — or  if, 
.rather,  by  any  imprudence — hum  ? — she  should  contract  another  marriage, 
she  loses  all  poor  dear  Hunksley’s  fortune,  (inquisitively)  hum  ? 

Aug.  But  Lady  Emily  is  too  knowing  a  hand - 

Lady  B.  To  marry  again.  Humph  !  The  heart’s  a  weak  piece  of 
mechanism — 

Buz  Very  weak  when  you  think  of  marrying.  (Lady  B.  as  before 

Lady  B.  And  it  will  not  always  go  as  it  should,  however  prudence  may 
wind  it  up.  And  this  Easely  is  an  old  flame,  and  people  do  say — 

Aug  You  don’t  mean  to  say — eh  ? 

Lady  B.  I  say  nothing;  but  people  will  talk — 

Buz.  Yes  people  will  talk — (Lady  B.  as  before — aside)  A  confounded  deil 
too  much,  sometimes. 

Lady  B.  And  some  wicked  tongues  go  so  far  as  to  say  there  was  a  secret 
marriage.  Of  course  I  don’t  believe  it.  (aside)  He  knows  nothing. 

Aug.  (aside)  Ah,, ha!  A  second  marriage  is  in  the  wind.  And  in  that 
case,  the  property  comes  to  the  Buzzbites.  If  I  remember  right,  there’s  a 
little  female  Buzzbite,  who  will  soon  be  marriageble.  Attention,  Augustus. 
These  Buzzbites  are  not  so  slow,  after  all.  (aloud,  goes  to  Lady  B.  shaking 
her  hand  cordially)  My  dear  Lady  Buzzbite,  1  am  enchanted  at  che  hazard 
which  has  enabled  me  to  meet  you  down  here.  My  dear  Sir  Barnabas ! 
(shaking  hands)  You  are  a  sporting  man,  I  think — 

Buz.  Why,  the  sport  I  am  allowed  to  have  is  not  very  sportive — (Lady 
B.  as  before)  Well,  my  love,  as  you  please. 

Aug.  I  can  give  you  the  last  and  most  correct  news  of  the  turf. 

( takes  him  aside 

Enter  Colonel  Easely  l. 

Col .  Lady  Emily  not  here,  and  it  is  past  the  usual  hour,  (takes  out 
watch)  But  she’s  always  too  late. 

Lady  B.  (pulling  Sir  B.  by  the  coat — aside)  What  are  you  doing,  Sir  Bar¬ 
nabas — where’s  your  observation  ? - 


ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS. 


* 

Buz .  My  observation,  dear?  Pm  sure  I  observe  all  you  tell  me. 

Lady  B.  You've  missed  a  symptom.  The  Colonel’s  grumbling  like  any 
arrant  husband. 

Col.  Really,  want  of  exactitude  in  a  lady  of  the  house  is  unpardona¬ 
ble. — How  can  there  ever  be  peace  and  quiet  in  a  house  without  regular 
habits  ? 

Lady  B.  {aside  to  Sir  B)  Very  suspicious,  that?  {aloud)  Lady  Emily  is 
so  amiable,  that  no  one  can  suspect  her  of  negligence  Colonel. 

CU.  ( coldly ,  looking  at  watch)  Oh,  certainly,  Lady  Emily  is  doubtless- 
very  amiable,  but  I  wish  she’d  be  a  little  more  exact. 

Lady  B.  (nudging  her  husband — aside)  Hey  ? — symptom. 

Col.  But  patience  is  a  virtue  we  must  learn  in  woman’s  company, 

{Lady  B.  nudging  her  husband 

Buz.  Yes,  dear — that  it  is. 

Enter  Lady  Emily  r. 

Em.  All  assembled  1  I  trust  I  have  not  kept  you  waiting. 

Col.  {looks  at  watch)  You  are  at  least  a  quarter  of  an  hour  behind  your 
time,  Lady  Emily.  (Lady  B.  as  before 

Buz.  I  see  love.* 

Em.  (c.)  Has  luncheon  been  announced? 

Col.  No,  not  yet;  but  that’s  no  reason.  ( Lady  B.  as  before 

Buz.  I’m  wide  awake,  sweet. 

Em.  Then,  if  not  exact,  I  am,  at  least,  not  too  late. 

Col.  To  be  sure,  exactitude  is  decidedly  no  female  virtue,  although  so 
bright  an  example  is  set  in  the  highest  circles.  (Lady  B.  as  before 

Buz.  Yes,  yes,  that’ll  do,  dear. 

Em.  I  am  grieved  to  have  failed  in  this  politeness,  but  (to  Lady  B.)  I 
was  occupied  with  trying  on  a  new  dress  ;  and  you  know  how  to  admit  such 
an  excuse  for  forgetfulness  of  time. 

Col.  (ironically)  Oh,  doubtless,  the  dressing  table  is  always  a  sufficient 
reason,  in  a  lady’s  mouth,  for  all  derelictions.  Lady  B.  as  before 

Buz.  Thank’ee,  my  love,  a  nod’s  as  good  as  a  nudge. 

Em.  (playfalty)  It  is  the  only  throne  you  men  have  left  us  ;  and  in  these 
revolutionary  days,  we  are  glad  to  cling  to  what  scraps  of  power  we  may 
be  still  possessed  of. 

Col.  No  doubt  you  cling  to  the  flounces  and  furbelows,  in  which  yout 
think  your  power  consists,  although  the  vassals  you  would  subjugate  may 
be  no  better  than  a  herd  of  coxcombs. 

Lady  Buzzbite  pinches  her  husband  so  hard ,  that  he  moves  away,  rubs  his  arm , 

Buz.  I’m  sure  I  must  be  black  and  blue. 

Em.  (turning  away,  with  a  disdainful  shrug  of  the  shoulders)  It  seems  my 
servants  are  behind-hand  to  day. 

Col.  Where  the  mistress  of  a  house  is  not  exact,  the  servants  never  are. 
There  can  be  no  peace  and  quiet  in  such  an  establishment. 

Lady  Buzzbite  tries  to  pinch  her  husband  again ,  but  misses  her  aim ,  and ,  turn¬ 
ing ,  makes  an  angry  face  at  him. 

Enter  Servant,  l. 

Serv.  These  papers  have  just  arrived  for  Mr.  Sharp,  my  Lady. 

Em.  Let  them  be  laid  in  the  library,  (to  Sharp)  We  will  look  at  them 
this  evening,  or  to-morrow  morning. 

Aug.  At  your  Ladyship’s  service. 

Serv.  (gives  Sharp  a  letter)  This  letter  was  brought  for  you  at  the  same 
time,  Sir. 

Aug.  You’ll  allow  me.  (comes  forward  and  opens  letter 

Em.  (to  Servant)  Is  luncheon  ready  ? 

Serv.  Directly,  my  Lady.  (exit  L. 

Aug.  (who  has  been  reading  his  letter ,  with  marks  of  astonishment ) 
Humph  1  ha  1  no  !  ah  !  whew  !  Ah  ha  !  a  h  ha  l 

•  Re-enter  Servant ,  l.  ^ 


10 


ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS. 


Serv.  ( announcing )  Luncheon  is  on  the  table  ! 

Em.  At  last,  Colonel  1 

The  Colonel ,  goes  up  stage  grumbling ,  pays  no  heed.  JSir  Barnabas  advances  to 
offer  Lady  Emily  his  arm ;  Sharp  springs  in  before  him  vnth  assiduous  gal - 
lantry.  Lady  Emily  accepts  his  arm  somewhat  ccquetishly . 

Em.  Colonel!  The  luncheon  you  so  impatiently  expected  is  waiting  you. 
Col.  Ah  !  ( goes  to  offer  Lady  Emily  his  arm ,  but  seeing  she  is  engaged ,  says 

aside)  Confound  the  fellow’s  impudence.  ( offers  arm  to  Lady  Buzzbite. 

Lady  B.  (on  going  out,  turns  to  seize  the  arm  of  her  husband,  who  follows 
her,  and  tries  to  avoid  her  gripe)  Symptoms!  (with  a  sneer)  Sir  B.  I  don’t 
know  what  your  discernment  may  think  of  this,  but  I  call  it  alarmingly 
suspicious.  (exeunt  l. 

Mary  Mum  peeps  in  r.,  watching  them  out. 

Mary,  (alone  putting  room  to -rights )  It’s  all  very  well — it’s  all  very  well. 
Lady  Emily  is  very  kind,  that  I  must  say  for  her.  But  I  cannot  stand  this 
kind  of  life  much  longer.  Put  a  padlock  upon  a  woman’s  mouth  !  it’s  mon¬ 
strous!  it’s  abominable  !  and  that  woman  a  lady’s  maid,  unheard  of!  To 
be  condemned  to  purse  one’s  mouth,  and  bite  one’s  lips,  a^id  say,  “Yes  sir,” 
and  “No  Ma’am,”  and  not  a  word  more;  and  with  one’s  fellow  servants, 
plain  “Yes,”  and  “No.”  Oh,  it’s  not  to  be  borne  !  Transportation  for  life 
upon  a  desert  island  would,  be  nothing  to  it.  (coming forward)  For  there,  I 
could  talk,  at  least,  to  the  birds,  and  the  beasts,  and  the  fishes,  and  the 
trees,  and  even  the  sticks  and  stones,  and  have  something  more  to  say  than 
•“Yes  Sir,”  and  “No  Ma’am.”  It’s  treating  a  poor  girl  worse  than  a  brute 
beret.  The  birds  can  chirp  at  their  ease,  ahd  the  dog  can  bark,  and  I  alone 
of  all  the  big  created  world,  am  bid  to  hold  my  tongue,  (with  increasing  vol¬ 
ubility)  But  I'll  have  my  revenge  for  it,  one  of  these  days;  and,  if  ever  I 
•come  to  get  married,  which,  thank  my  stars  !  I  hope  to  be — for  I  never  in¬ 
tend  to  die  an  old  maid — won’t  I  pay  it  off  on  my  spouse.  For  every  word 
he  says,  I’ll  say  ten — for  every  ten  he  dares  to  utter,  I’ll  set  it  off  with  a 
thousand.  I’ll  make  up  for  lost  time.  I’ll  talk — talk — talk — talk — talk — 
I’ll  talk  all  the  morning — I’ll  talk  at  noon — I’ll  talk  all  night.  I’ll  never 
leave  him  a  moment’s  rest,  and  then,  if  he  complains,  I’ll  tell  him  to  go  to 
Lady  Emily  for  his  damages.  She  owes  me  them.  I  must  say,  too,  that,  if 
it  comes  for  a  character  for  descretion,  secrecy,  and  silence,  she  would 
swear  herself  black  in  the  face  that  there  was  never  a  poor  girl  on  the  space 
of  the  earth — no,  not  one  in  the  whole  wide  ’versa!  world,  who  for  holding 
her  tongue,  and  never  speaking  a  word — no,  not  one  sometimes  in  a  whole 
long  day  of  four-and-twenty-hours— and  I  don’t  know  that  it  hasn’t  more — I 
am  sure'  it  sometimes  seems  so — and  for  being  the  very  pattern  of  silence,  is 
to  be  compared  to  Marv  Mum!  (throws  herself  into  a  chair,  and  fanning 
herself  with  a  handkerchief )  There!  I’ve  had  it  out  now,  and  it’s  very  well 
I  have,  for  I  was  near  choking. 

Enter  Sir  Barnabas  and  Lady  Buzzbite,  L. 

Lady  B.  Come  Sir  Barnabas — let’s  consult  in  quiet - 

Buz.  I’m  sure  I’ve  no  objection  to  a  little  quiet,  if  I  can  get  it  my  love. 
Lady  B.  Pshaw!  What’s  to  be  done  now.  Ah — see,  here  we  have  Mrs. 
Mum.  What  are  you  doing  here,  my  good  girl  ? 

Mary.  Nothing,  Ma’am. 

Lady  B  Then  you’ll  have  the  kindness  to  leave  us,  if  you  please. 

Mary.  Yes  ma’am. 

Lady  B.  I  shall  not  forget  ynu  you,  Mary  Mum.  I  may  want  to  have  a 

little  talk  with  you  in  private - 

Buz.  Yes,  we  may  want  a  little  talk  with  you  in - 

(Lady  B.’s  look  stops  him 
Lady  B.  (continues)  I  see  you  are  willing  to  be  obliging  to  your  lady’s 
guests. 

Mary.  So,  so,  ma’am  (Lady  B.  turns  away  impatiently 

Mary,  (going-— aside)  I  hope  she  liked  it!  At  all  events,  if  I  can’t  talk,  I 


ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS.  Ac 

can  be  provoking— and  that’s  some  comfort.  \txii  *. 

Lady  B.  The  girl  is  a  pert  hussey- — 

Buz.  She’s  a  very  pretty  girl,  my  dear.  .  . 

Lady  B  {sharply)  Sir  Barnabas  !  ( continues )  But,  thanks  to  the  matri¬ 
monial  symptoms,  we  shall  do  without  her.  But,  hark,  I  hear  some  ono 
coming.  Come  this  way,  we  will  take  up  our  post  of  observation  again. 

They  retire  to  the  veranda ,  Sir  B.jollowing  Lady  B.  on  tiptoe. 

Enter  Colonel  Easely ,  i ..—he  looks  absent  and  out  of  humor,  and  nearly  shuts 
the  door  in  the  face  of  Lady  Emily ,  who  follows  him . 

Em.  Take  care,  Colonel !  You  nearly  shut  the  door  in  my  face. 

Col.  ( coldly )  You r  pardon— I  did  not  see  you. 

Em.  I  observed  as  much.  . 

Lady  Buzzbite ,  in  the  background ,  makes  sign  to  her  husband. 

A  pause ,  during  which  the  Colonel  walks  up  and  down  angrily ,  and  Lady  Emi¬ 
ly  observes  him  uneasily. 

Em.  Really,  Easely,  I  must  again  call  you  to  account  for  your  conduct. 
Whv  did  you  thus  start  up,  and  leave  Mr.  Sharp  so  abruptly? 

Col ,  It  was  your  society,  my  Lady  ;  and  you  seemed  both  of  you,  so 
agreeably  entertained  with  one  another,  that  I  thought  to  do  you  a  service 
in  leaving  you.  ( turns  away 

During  the  following  dialogue,  whenever  Lady  Buzzbite  observes  an. angry  ges- 
ture ,  she  repeats  her  sigm  to  her  husband. 

Em.  {showing  symptoms  of  impatience )  Certainly,  Colonel,  if  you  dome 
the  honor  of  being  jealous,  I  cannot  but  be  highly  flattered. 

Col.  Jealous  ?  I  jealous?  and  of  such  a  coxcomb? — that  would  be  too  ab- 

SUi£vi.  If  I  put  that  interpretation  on  your  conduct,  Colonel,  it  was  to  ex¬ 
cuse  vour  impoliteness  and  ill-humor. 

Col.  As  if  it  were  not  quite  enough  to  put  any  sensible  man  m  a  passion, 
to  sit  there  and  be  a  witness  to  all  your  coquetry  with  that  infernal  fellow. 

Em.  Really,  Colonel,  if  you  resume  that  horrid  barrack  language  again, 
I  must  decline  all  further  conversation  with  you  for  the  present,  {turns  away 
Col.  No,  Lady  Emily,  I  insist  upon  your  hearing  me,  now  you  know  my 
mind. 

Em.  Insist!  Oh,  that  is  too  much. 

Col.  Yes,  Madam,  for  I  cannot  see  you  any  longer  showing  such  marked 
and  decided  attention  to  a  man  who  was  evidently  making  love  to  you,  and 
in  the  grossest  manner,  without  expostulation.  And  hear  me  you  shall. 

Em.  Once  for  all,  I  am  not  used  to  such  manners.  .  ( going 

Col.  {following ,  and  seizing  her  arm)  Madam,  you  shall  not  leave  me 
thus/  to  Return  and  listen  to  all  the  cursed  flatteries  of  that  consummate 

i0°Em.  {enraged)  Ah,  Colonel!  {seeing  Lady  B.  and  Sir  B.  on  the  veranda) 
For  Heaven’s  sake,  moderate  yourself!— we  are  observed. 

The  Colonel  turns  round,  leaves  Lady  Emily,  and  goes  angrily  to  the  other  side 

of  the  stage _ Lady  Buzzbite  makes  a  triumphant  and  menacing  gesture,  and 

then  disapears  with  Sir  B. 

Enu  (a;  ter  a  pause)  Ah,  they  are  gone  J  See,  Colonel ,  to  what  you  ex¬ 
pose  us  by  this  unseemly  violence. 

Col.  Well,  well  !  I  was  wrong,  perhaps,  to  allow  my  passion  to  push  me 
to  such  lengths.  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mad  Jh. 

Em.  Easely  ! 

Col.  But  you  must  own,  that  yoh  allowed  your  spirit  of  coquetry  to  carry 
you  away,  and  that  I  had  cause  to  feel  vexed  and  irritated  You  were  all 
eyes  and  ears,  during  the  whole  luncheon,  for  every  glance  and  word  of 
that  ridiculous  fop.  *  ,  ,  „ 

Em.  if  I  accepted  Mr.  sharp’ s  arm,  it  was  because  Colonel  Easely  waa 
too  heedless  to  offer  me  his  arm— if  I  listened  to  his  nonsense  at  luncheon,  it 


12  ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS. 

was  because  Colonel  Easely  was- too  well  employed  upon  himself,  to  be  as 
entertaining  as  he  was  of  yore. 

Col.  There  may  be  some  truth  in  this,  I  must  admit,  and  I  make  my  con¬ 
fession  humbly  ;  but  on  your  side,  no  more  coquetry,  Lady  Emily. 

Em.  ( playfully )  And,  on  yours,  no  more  indifference.  Colonel  Easely. 
Col.  No  more  marked  attention  to  other  men. 

Em.  A  little  more  attention  to  one  woman. 

Col.  Promised — I  repent ! 

Em.  Agreed — [renounce! 

Col.  Lady  Emily,  you  are  more  charming  than  ever. 

Em.  Colonel  Easely,  you  are  becoming  dreadfully  fascinating  again. 

They  both,  smile  —  Colonel  Easely  looks  around,  sees  nobody ,  puts  his  arm  about 
her  waist,,  is  about  to  kiss  her. 

Aug ,  ( without )  Where  are  they  all ! 

Col.  { moving  away)  Ah,  confound  the  fellow  1  we  can  never  have  a  mo¬ 
ment's  peace  and  quiet. 

Em.  { with  warning  finger)  Hush  ! 

Enter  Augustus  Sharp ,  L. 

Aug.  Ah!  I  have  the  extreme  felicity  of  finding  your  Ladyship. 

Em.  ( coldly )  I  owe  you  some  excuse,  Mr.  Sharp,  for  using  so  little  cere¬ 
mony  with  you  ;  but  in  the  country  we  have  acquired  the  habit  of  paying 
so  little  attention  to  the  formalities  of  the  world,  that  we  forget  ourselves? 

Aug.  All  that  Lady  Emily  does,  must  be  dictated  by  a  sense  of  ladylike 
delicacy  and  feminine  grace. 

Lady  Emily  turn  away  coldly ,  without  answering ,  and  talks  aside  with  Colonel 

Easely. 

Enter  Sir  B.  and  Lady  B.  by  flat. 

Lady  B.  {to  Sir  B.)  So  the  presnee  of  Sharp  has  caused  them  to  calm 
down  a  bit;  or,  take  my  word  for  it,  they  would  have  snapped  on  till  mid¬ 
night,  just  as  you  do  at  home,  Sir  Barnabas. 

Buz.  Permit  me  my  dear — you  know  it  is  always  you - 

Lady  B.  Hold  your  tongue,  Sir  Barnabas,  and  don’t  talk  nonsense.  Open 
your  eyes  and  shut  your  mouth,  I  say  ;  we  shall  have  plenty  of  symptoms 
more  to  add  to  our  ammunition  store.  What  a  fire  we  will  then  pour  in. 
(i comes  forward,)  Your  garden  is  charming,  La'dy  Emily.  What  say  you  to 
a  general  stroll  ? 

Aug.  {springing  forward)  Allow'  me,  Lady  Emily,  to  offer  you  my  arm. 
Exquisite  must  it  be  to  wander  in  such  a  garden,  with  such  a  companion. 

Em.  {coldly)  Thank  you  Mr.  Sharp,  I  am  too  tired.  And  besides,  if  I 
go  out  I  have  promised  my  arm  to  the  Colonel.  V 

Col.  And  that  is  a  privilege  which  no  earthly  force  could  make  me  re¬ 
nounce. 

Lady  Buzzbite,  on  the  point  of  nudging  her  husband ,  stops  short, —they  look 
surprised  into  each  other's  faces. 

Lady  B.  (apart)  Ha  ! 

Buz.  {apart)  Hum! 

Em.  You  are  very  kind,  Colonel.  I  certainly  should  not  deprive  yon 
of  a  privilege  you  value. 

Col.  And  which  I  cannot  value  too  highly.  {Lady  *nd  Sir  B.  as  before 
Lady  B.  {aside)  Hum! 

Buz.  {aside)  Ha,  my  love,  the  suspicious  symptoms  you  promised  don't 
come.  # 

Lady  B.  Nonsense,  there’s  some  mistake,  {aloud)  My  dear  Lady  Emily, 
I  suppose  the  beauty  of  the  garden  is  due  to  your  own  task. 

Col.  Lady  Emily  shows  exquisite  taste  in  all  she  does. 

Sir  B.  twitches  Lady  B.’s  dress.  She  pulls  it  angrily  away ,  witkrOkii  seeing  s 
Em.  No  great  taste  is  necessary,  when  the  natural  love  is  so  strong.  I 
am  so  fond  of  flowers  and  their  perfume,  that  I  would  have  them  tlwayi 
around  me. 


ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS. 


IS 


Col.  I  fly  to  anticipate  your  wishes. 

The  Colonel  hastens  out  by  the  Veranda ,  and  marly  upsets  Sharp ,  t oho  looks 

indignant. 

Lady  B .  {triumphantly  to  her  husband)  Ah,  I  thought  he  couldn’t  stand  it 
this  forced  air  of  gallantry  long.  He  has  vanished,  you  see.  Symptoms! 
A  true  husband. 

Buz.  (aside)  I  only  wish  I  had  such  a  chance. 

Sharp.  ( advancing )  If  your  ladyship  would  allow  me  to  exercise  my  poor 
taste  in  culling  a  boquet  from  your  garden. 

Em.  Thank  you.  I  would  on  no  account  give  you  the  trouble. 

The  Colonel  hurries  back  again  by  flat f  with  a  small  nosegay  in  his  hand.  Me 
nearly  upsets  Sharp  again. 

Col.  ( out  of  breath)  I  have  ventured  to  fetch  you  some  of  the  sweetest  flow¬ 
ers  of  your  garden,  Lady  Emily.  Why  should  a  pleasure,  so  easily  attain- 
ed,  fail  you  one  moment? 

Sharp .  (aside)  Confound  the  fellow!  He  is  beforehand  with  me.  A  fast 
man  distanced  by  such  a  slow  fellow  as  that,  it’s  inconceivable. 

( goes  up,  and  throws  himself  into  a  chair .  Sir  B  nudges  his  wife 

Buz.  Eh,  my  dear. 

Lady  B.  Be  quiet,  Sir  Barnabas. 

Em  ( who  has  taken  the  nosegay)  Colonel,  your  flattering  attention  de¬ 
serves  a  recompense.  (she  takes  out  a  rose,  and  sticks  it  in  his  buttonhole 

Col.  You  give  me  the  brightest  of  the  store.  It  is  a  treasure. 

Sir  Barnabas  nudges  his  wife. 

Buz.  (apart)  Eh,  my  dear. 

Lady  B.  (in  a  passion)  Leave  me  alone  Sir  Barnabas,  (aloud,  with  ill-sur- 
pressed  vexation)  My  dear  Lady  Emily,  it  you  could  be  induced  to  change 
your  mind,  nothing  could  be  more  agreeable  than  a  ramble. 

Em.  1  am  indeed  too  much  fatigued.  But  use  no  ceremony.  I  would 
not  have  you  stay  because  I  am  too  indolent  to  stir. 

(seats  herself ,  looking  tenderly  at  the  Colonel 

Lady  B.  But  the  Colonel  will  not  refuse  to  join  us  ? 

Col.  Thank  you,  I  could  not  think  of  leaving  Lady  Emily  alone. 

Buz.  (aside)  The  symptoms  are  decinedly  unfavorable  to  Lady  B. 

'Sir  Barnabas  is  about  to  nudge  his  wife  again,  but  checks  himself  as  if  afraid. 

Lady  B.  (angrily  to  her  husband)  Then  I  must  beg  your  arm,  Sir  Barna¬ 
bas,.  for  want  of  a  better. 

.Buz.  Highly  flattered  at  the  preference,  my  love. 

Lady  B.  Pshaw  ! 

Buz.  (aside)  My  dear,  the  symptoms  don’t  come  at  all. 

Lady  B.  (aside)  I  think  they  are  all  run  mad  on  purpose  to  plague  me. 
pulling  her  husband  angrily  away)  Come,  Sir  Barnabas. 

(exeunt  Sir  B.  and  Lady  B.  by  flat 

Em.  Mr.  Sharp !  (Sharp  rises  and  comes  forward)  I  feel  I  should  do 
wrong  to  detain  you  here.  For,  after  all,  I  could  look  over  my  law  papers 
-without  your  assistance;  and,  if  I  need  any  experience  and  advice,  I  have 
Colonel  Easily’s  here. 

Aug . ,  Since  your  ladyship  desires,  I  will  put  the  papers  in  order,  and 
take  departure. 

Em.  Since  I  desire?  By  no  means,  Mr.  Sharp,  I  request  you  to  suit 
your  own  convenience. 

Aug.  (aside).  That’s  all  very  well ;  but  I’m  up  to  a  trick  or  two;  and  its 
very  clear  he’s  running  me  off  the  course,  (aloud)  In  truth,  Lady  Emily,  it 
were  better,  perhaps,  to  leave  the  papers  for  your  private  perusal.  I  will 
see  that  every  thing  is  ready,  (bows — aside  going)  Distanced  1  distanced  ! 
LuV  now’s  your  time  to  shew  a  little  pluck,,  old  chap.  Attention,  Augustus, 
attention  !  Prove  yourself  a  man..  (exit  l. 


14 


ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS. 


Em.  (smiling)  I  hope  Easely,  you  will  give  me  credit  for  turning  Mr. 
Augustus  Sharp  out  of  the  house  to  please  you.  I  trust  then,  that  you  may 
soon  enjoy  again  ( mimmicing  the  Colonel  ’ s  manner)  your  peace  and  quiet,  to 
your  heart’s  content.  Lady  Buzzbite,  just  now  seemed  not  well  pleased 
enough  to  favor  us  with  any  lengthened  st^-. 

Cot.  (fondly)  So  be  it.  And  then  we  can  return  again  to  those  fond  days 
when,  in  one  long  happy  tete-a-tete ,  we  lived  only  for  each  other. 

Em.  Yes,  those  were  happy  days,  Easely. 

Col.  When  we  wandered  hand  in  hand—  ( taking  her  hand 

Em.  ( smilingly )  Like  the  babes  in  the  wood. 

Col.  And  gathered  flowers — 

Em.  Which  you  strewed  before  my  footsteps,  and  swore  to  me,  that  thus 
I  should  go  down  hand  in  hand  with  you  to  the  grave  along  life’s  flowery 
path. 

Cel.  Or  we  sat,  side  by  side,  upon  some  mossy  bank - 

Em.  And  you  read  aloud  to  me  passages  from  my  favorite  authors,  which 
went  to  our  hearts  as  raising  our  eyes,  from  time  to  time,  we  applied  them 
to  ourselves. 

Col.  But  that  time  shall  come  again.  Again  we  will  apply  the  tenderest 
verses  to  our  mutual  happiness.  And  why  not  now?  We  are  alone.  Our 
importunate  visitors  are  far  away.  ( looking  round 

Em.  I  desire  no  more  congenial  pleasure.  Come  read  to  me  as  in  our 
happy  days. 

Col.  You  are  charming  ! — directly,  directly! 

( goes  to  table f  on  which  are  books 

Em.  ( going  to  the  sofa  with  a  half  yawn)  In  truth,  I  am  so  fatigued,  that 
such  repose  seems  to  me  the  sweetest  of  pleasures,  (half  reclining  on  sofa  l.  c. 

Col.  (at  table)  What  have  we  here?  Ah,  Shelley  !  Will  you  like  Shelley  ? 

Em  My  favorite  Shelley,  by  all  means. 

Col.  ( seating  himself  on  chair  (c.)  next  her ,  half  turning  back)  What  shall 
I  read  ? 

Em  (yawning)  Just  what  you  please. 

Col.  (opening  at  random)  Ah,  the  Pine  Forest!  Shall  I  read  the  Pine 
Forest  ? 

Em.  (yawning)  As  you  please. 

Col.  (reads)  “The  inviolable  sweetness, 

“The  breath  of  peace  we  drew — ** 

— Oh,  yes  !  the  breath  of  peace  we  draw — don’t  we  ? 

Em.  (sleepily)  The  breath  of  peace  ! 

Col.  (continuing)  “With  its  soft  motion  made  not  less 
“The  calm  that  round  us  grew — ” 

— delicious  calm  ! 

Em.  (repeating  almost  unconsciously)  Delicious  calm  ! 

Col.  How  sweetly  applicable  ! 

Em.  (half  asleep)  Sweetly  applicable  ! 

Col.  (continuing)  “And  all  was  interspersed  beneath 
“With  an  Elysian  air, 

“An  atmosphere  without  a  breath — 

“A  silence  sleeping  there — ” 

— a  silence  sleeping  there  !  how  exquisite,  isn’t  it  beautiful  ?  a  silence  sleep¬ 
ing  there,  what  pretty  words, — sleeping  there,  (turns  round ,  sees  Lady  Em. 
ily  asleep)  Sleeping  there,  yes — sleeping  there  indeed,  (piqued)  The  words 
are  applicable  enough.  It  was  worth  while  doing  the  pretty,  and  recuring 
to  happy  days  gone  by,  and  reading  poetry  to  her,  when  she  never  paid  me 
the  least  attention.  It  is  really  not  the  thing — in  the  presence  of  one, 
whom  you  profess  to  love — to  take  your  ease — (stretches  himself  in  chair)  and 
show  such  consummate  indifference — and  go  to  such  lengths  as  to  fall  asleep 
— asleep — in  the  society  of  her  beloved — it’s  inconceivable, — (closes  eyes)  it’s 
really  unjustiflabla^(repea£i/?<5r  mechanically)  to  fall  asleep — ha,  ha, — asleep — 
ha,  ha — fast  asleep — peace  and  quiet — peaee  and  quiet — peace — quiet — (sleeps 


ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUSLY. 


1* 

Enlcr  Sir  Bar?iabas  and  Lady  B.  by  flat. 

iAidy  B.  {not  seeing  the  sleepers)  Could  anything  be  more  provoking? 
The  matrimonial  symptoms  were  as  clear  as  daylight.  Never  did  man  and 
wife  show  them  off  more  perfectly.  I  could  have  said  in  their  faces,  “you 
are  man  and  wife,  you  can't  deny  it/'  and  then  the  all  of  a  sudden  the  mat¬ 
rimonial  symptoms  disapear.  I  am  so  provoked,  that  I  could— you  better 
keep  out  of  the  way,  Sir  Barnabas. 

Buz.  I’m  sure  I've  no  objection,  my  dear.  ( getting  out  of  her  wayf  he  sees 
the  sleepers)  Ah,  hush  !  Don’t  make  a  noise  and  expose  yourself,  look  there! 

Lady  B.  {turning)  What?  Ah,  ha!  Asleep,  both  of  them  ;  Asleep  side- 
by-side!  ( folding  her  arms,  to  Sir  B.)  And  you  pretend  to  say,  that  they  are 
lovers,  and  not  man  and  wife?  Who  ever  saw  lovers  fall  asleep  in  each  oth¬ 
er’s  company?  Did  you  ever  presume,  when  you  courted  me,  Sir  Barnabas, 
to  fall  asleep  in  my  presence  ? 

Buz  Never,  my  dear.  You  never  gave  me  a  chance. 

Lady  B.  1  think  not  indeed  !  Symptom  of  symptoms,  I  greet  thee  in  that 
matrimonial  tableau !  Doubts  away  !  They  are  man  and  wife.  The  for¬ 
tune  is  ours,  Sir  Barnabas,  {laughs)  Ha,  ha,  ha!  Man  and  wife. 

Em .  {awakening)  Oh,  charming  ! 

Col.  {awakening)  Peace  and  quiet ! 

Lady  B.  again  laughs  triumphantly. 

Em.  {starting  up  and  rubbing  her  eyes)  Ah,  Lady  Buzzbite!  I  did  not  see 
you.  I  beg  your  pardon — I  was  so  tired — I  believe  I  was  asleep. 

Lady  B.  {pointing  to  Colonel,  who  is  rubbing  his  eyes)  Yes,  my  dear  Emily 
and  in  company  of  your  friend,  Colonel  Easely,  who  on  his  side,  was  enjoy¬ 
ing  a  very  hearty  snooze. 

Em.  {surprised)  Ah  ! 

Col.  {contused)  I  really  don’t  know  how  it  was - 

Lady  B .  {triumphant)  Oh,  don’t  excuse  yourfelf,  Colonel.  Perhaps  I  can 
guess  very  well  how  it  was.  Such  things  happen  sometimes  to  Sir  Barna¬ 
bas  and  myself. 

Buz.  Very  seldom. 

Lady  B.  {continues)  But  then  we  are  man  and  wife,  and,  as  married  peo¬ 
ple,  we  indulge  in  such  little  symptoms  of  differences. 

The  Colonel  and  Lady  Emily  look  at  each  other  with  embarrassment. 

Em.  All  further  concealment  is  in  vain,  I  see.  Lady  Buzzbite,  I  will  not 
affect  to  misunderstand  your  taunts,  or  conceal  from  you  that  I  am  Oolonej 
Easely’s  wife.  But  your  triumph  might  have  been  more  easily  gained:  in 
a  short  time  I  should  have  revealed  the  truth.  Upon  my  late  husband’s 
decease,  Colonel  Easely  was  by  my  side,  my  only  friend.  We  had  loved 
each  other  long.  My  position  was  embarrassing,  and  we  were  married  be¬ 
fore  my  year  of  mourning  had  expired — secretly  married,  I  confess  it.  When 
in  England,  we  learnt  the  disposition  of  the  will,  my  first  impulse  was  to 
avow  my  marriage  and  restore  the  fortune  to  the  hands  of  those  on  whom  it 
was  bestowed.  But  I  recalled  hints  let  fall  by  my  late  husband  in  his  last 
illness,  and  I  waited  to  see  whether  no  second  will  had  changed  the  condi¬ 
tions  of  the  first.  The  time,  however,  I  had  allotted  for  my  expectations,  is 
nearly  run — I  renounce  my  hopes  ;  and  now  Lady  Buzzbite,  1  cheerfully 
resign  to  you  the  fortune,  happy  to  forego  a  concealment  which  has  been  re¬ 
pugnant  to  my  nature, 

Buz.  [to  Lady  B.)  Permit  me,  my  dear.  You  must  see  now — 

Lady  B.  Hold  your  tongue,  Sir  Barnaba^f  and  let  me  speak,  {holding  out 
hand)  Lady  Emily,  I  have  done  you  wrong — will  you  forgive  me? 

Em..  Willingly. 

Buz.  {crying)  Oh,  'tis  very  touching,  Lady  Emily,  permit  me - 

Lady  B.  {pushing  him  back)  There,  that  will  do  Sir  Barnabas,  that  will  do. 

Enter  Augustus  Sharp,  l.  with  papers  and  open  letter  in  hand ,  comes  c. — Afar# 
Mum  appears  k.  goes  and  speaks  to  her  mistress. 


1« 


ALARMINGLY  SUSPICIOUS. 


Auq.  (c.)  Lady  Emily,  before  taking  my  departure,  permit  me  to  be  the 
messenger  of  good  news. 

Em.  Good  news,  Mr.  Sharp  ? 

Aug.  Among  these  papers  last  arrived  from  India,  is  a  second  will  of 
your  late  husband,  by  which,  according  to  the  letter  of  my  uncle,  it  appears 
that  the  conditions  of  the  first  are  revoked,  and  that  without  losing  your  for¬ 
tune,  your  Ladyship  may,  in  a  second  union,  bestow  bliss  upon  some  unwor¬ 
thy  but  adoring  individual.  (gives  one  of  the  papers 

Em.  [to  Colonel )  My  friend — my  husband — I  have  not  given  you  a  por¬ 
tionless  bride.  (Sharp  is  surprised  and  mortified 

Lady  B.  A  second  will — the  conditions  revoked.  And  we  lose  our  for¬ 
tune  at  the  very  moment  we  thought  to  hold  it  in  our  grasp,  (clenching  her 
hand  at  Sir  B.)  Oh,  Sir  Barnabas,  Sir  Barnabas  ! 

Buz.  (getting  out  of  her  way — alarmed)  Permit  me,  my  dear — 

Aug.  (looks  at  letter )  Patience,  patience!  Old  Nick  goes  on  to  say,  that 
out  of  his  immense  fortune,  the  lamented  deceased  has  found  means  it  seems 
to  made  ample  provisions  for  his  relations,  Sir  Barnabas  and  Lady  Buzzbite 
(taking  Lady  B.'s  hand  affectionately)  I  am  delighted  my  dear  Lady  Buzz- 
bite,  to  give  you  this  alleviation  to  your  disapointment.  (aside)  The  little 
Buzzbite  will  come  in  for  pretty  pickings  yet. 

Lady  B.  Ha,  ha,  ha!  Mr.  Augustus,  your  previous  knowledge,  then, 
( points  to  letter  in  his  hand)  accounts  for  your  sudden  gallant  attention  to 
Lady  Emily.  Ha,  ha,  ha!  (Aug.  expostulates  with  her ,  aside 

Mary,  (to  Lady  E.)  So,  my  Lady,  all  is  discovered,  it  seems;  I  need  no 
longer  hold  my  tongue,  then. 

Em.  I  grant  you  free  powers  to  chatter  as  much  as  you  please,  and 
declare  to  all  the  world  that  I  am  Colonel  Easely’s  wife. 

Mary.  Thank  you,  my  Lady.  Now  then,  I  can  behave  as  a  lady’s  maid 
ought  to  do.  ’Twas  high  time,  though.  For  I  won’t  swear  that  in  another 
day  or  two,  I  should  not  have  burst  outright  with  a  strangulation  of  words 
in  my  throat. 

Col.  Dearest  wife,  since  so  I  can  call  you,  Lady  Buzzbite’s  lesson  shall 
never  be  forgotten.  We  shall  now  at  last  live  in  peace  and  quiet,  and, 
henceforth,  none  of  the  matrimonial  symptoms  shall  ever  appear  again  in 
our  married  life,  (half  to  the  public)  And,  if  any-body  doubts  of  the  truth  of 
my  resolution,  let  him  come  here  again  and  see. 

Em.  No  more  symptoms,  then,  (comes  forward, )  And  yet  there  are  some 
symptoms  I  would  still  fain  see — symptoms  of  satisfaction,  (pointing  to  the 
public)  Here,  Lady  Buzzbite,  since  you  are  the  true  observer  of  all  symp¬ 
toms,  see  if  you  can  discover  any. 

Lady  B.  Ah,  my  observations  may  be  all  at  fault  there,  but  I  will  make 
the  attempt.  (comes  forward 

Buz.  (coming  forward)  Permit  me,  my  dear,  if  you  would  take  my  advice 

for  once,  and  try  a  little  diplomatic  tac - - 

Lady  B.  Hold  your  tongue,  Sir  Barnabas,  you  don’t  know  what  you  are 
talking  about.  No  diplomacy  would  avail  us  here.  We  are  only  suppli¬ 
cants.  I  look  around  me  from  face  to  face.  What  are  the  symptoms? 
Among  you — or  you — or  you.  There  are  none,  I  trust,  that  I  should  be 
forced  to  call  ‘‘Alarmingly  Suspicious. 

R,  Mart.  Colonel.  Lady  E.  Lady  B.  Sib  B.  Sharp.  L. 


CURTAIN 


NE  W  MIL  IT  A  RY  ALL  EG  OR  Y. 


j - . — - - - * — 

rJTiic  oT  Ath&nla. 

A.  errand  military  allegory  in  6  acts,  by  A.  I>  Ames  and  0-  G. 
Bartley,  14  male,  3  female  characters,  with  as  many  supermnnary 
ladies  and  gents  as  the  stage  may  afford  room  for*  This  great  play 
is  founded  on  incidents  which  actually  occured  during  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion — it  introduces  Ohio’s  brave  and  gallant  McPherson — 
the  actual  manner  of  his  capture  and  death  is  shewn.  It  abounds 
>vit  the  most  beautiful  tableaux,  drill,  marches,  scenes  upon  the 
battle  f  ^i  l,  in  AndersonviHe,  etc.,  and  is  pronounced  by  the  press 
and  public,  the  most  successful  military  play  ever  produced.  G.  A. 

R.  Posts,  Mi'ifcarv  Companies  and  other  organizations,  who  rnav 
wish  something  which  will  draw,  should  produce  it.  It  may  not  be 
out  of  place  to  add  that  this  play  with  the  incidents  ot  the  death  of 
the  gallant  McPherson,  was  written  with  the  full  consent  ot  the 
General’s  brother,  R.  B.  McPherson,  si>:ce  dead,  who  fully  approved 
of  it.  Belovv  will  be  found  a  synopsis  of  incidents,  etc. 

SYNOPSIS  OF  INCIDENTS. 

Act  1st.  Home  of  Farmer  Dalton,  “don’t  talk  politics.”  The  dinner  hour, 
i  News  from  Fort  Sumpter,  and  call  for  75,000  men.  Quarrel  of  old  friends. 
“They  hung  traitors  in  former  times.”  Oath  of  vengeance.  The  patriotic 
Dutchman.  His  wonderful  story.  Husband  and  wife.  “Go,  and  may  God 
bless  you.”  Little  Willie.  “Dot  dog.”  The  Dutchman  organizes  a  com  pa-  i 
ny.  Parting  of  lovers,  and  “parting  for.  ever.”  “Country  first  and  love  \ 
afterwards.”  Schneider,  the  Dutchman,  and  his  nev?  company.  He  means  | 
business  and  shows  his  “poys”  that  he  understands  military  business.  Kn-  j 
1  sting.  Schneider  and  his  eompauy  sign  the  rolls.  The  Daltons.  “Hus-  ; 
band,  must  you  go?”  Duty.  Little  Willie.  “Please,  mother,  may  I  go?”  j 
Presentation  of  the  flag.  Parting  of  loved  ones. 

Act  2nd.  Camp  by  night.  The  letter  from  home.  Army  duties.  Songs  j 
and  merriment.  “Tenting on  the  old  camp  ground.”  "Inspection  of  the 
regiment.  Generals  McPherson  and  Sherman.  News  from  Atlanta.  A 
brave  man  required.  The  dangerous  mission.  Promise  of  promotion  given 
by  McPherson.  Departure  of  the,  spy.  The  Confederate  camp.  Cc.pt.  St. 

(  lairs  soliloquy.  Plotting.  Pete.  The  old  Negro  is  used  rather  roughly. 
Father  anil  son.  The  man  who  stutters  so  badly.  The  discovery,  “A -spy.” 
“Do  your  worst,  you  cowardly  traitor.”  Pete  makes  himself  useful.  “No 
chance  of  life.”  Thrilling  tableau  and  capture  of  St.  Clair.  Escape  of  St. 
Clair.  The  pursuit.  Generals  MePhefson  and  Sherman,  News  from  the 
from.  McPherson  preparing  for  battle.  Firing  on  the  left.  “I  must  at  once 
;  ascertain  the  cause.”  •  The  rebel  squad.  McPherson’s  danger.  “Halt  and 
surrender  *’  The  fatal  shot.  “It  is  General  McPherson  ;  you  have  killed 
the  bc.it  man  in  the  Union  Army.” 

Acr?kt,  Return  of  the  spy.  Sherman  hears  of  the  death  of  Ids  friend.  The 
cj)  >tr»v:,s  lines  in  motion.  The  long  roll  and  general  engagement. 

ACT  dh.  Battlefield  by  night.  “Water!  I  am  dying  for  the  want  of  water.” 
Little  WilJic.  The  traitor  forgiven.  Edwin  and  Willie  are  made  prisoners. 
The  U  Ecu  very,  and  renewal  of  the  oath  of  vengeance. 

Act  5  h.  Anderson ville  with  all  its  horrors.  Hope  of  being  exchanged.  The 
last  crust  of  bread.  St.Clair  informs  Edwin  of  the  arrival  or  his  wife. 
Fears  nf  insanity,  and  prayers  to  God  for  reason  to  know  her.  The  maniac.  » 
“Oh,  brother,  don’t  vou  know  me?  I  am  your  brother  Willie.”  Maud  ar«  j 
rives.  Terror  on  beholding  her  husband.  “He  must  know  me.’  The  pic-  i 
turc.  The  recognition  of  the  picture,  and  “you  are— no  I  can  not  be  wrong, 
you  are  Maud,  my  wife;  thank  God  ’  Villainy  of  St.  Clair.  The  cry  for 
bread.  Bravery  uf  Willie.  The  fatal  shot,  and  death  of  the  brave  boy. 
Madness.  The  curse.  “Boys,  let  us  pray  that  this  mar  soon  end.”  The 
rescue. 

ACT  tub..  News  of  the  surrender  of  Lee.  The  new  love.  The  vacant  chair.  # 
Happiness  of  Pete.  Return  of  the  hoys,  and  joyful  meeting  of  loved  ones.  • 
m  .  r’  s  inarch,  and  beautiful  tableau. 

'  Price,  otnU  per  copy. 


1.  D.  AMES,  PUBLISHER,  CLYDE,  0: 


0UI?  liUSIXEHS-::WIf:lT  JTE  DO.' 

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